Aye, and if the persecution is as bad as you say, then they are right to be secret about it.

Are there any libraries nearby? I was thinking of looking into them, have an idea for a little project that might help us on any quests that we might have in human lands. Does anyone here know much about the laws of the Coastal Kingdoms and how it all works over there? I must confess I am not an expert.

I will drop some background information a little early as Talon has done some active research. He talks to one of the returning spies from the human lands.

Talon talks to one of the returning spies from the human lands: 'The human lands were once united under a strong and generous king. Since the breakup of the large kingdom, local warlords and bandit kings have emerged that maintain some semblance of the old order at the local level. At the top is the local despot. Below him is the equivalent of what used to be lords, but are now just cronies of the local despot with glorified titles. Below the 'lords' are the rest (what used to be called serfs). Under the previous king a middle class of tradesmen and professionals was emerging, but they are now brutally suppressed and relegated to serf status.'

Let me know when everyone is ready to go--the dwarves were impatient to be off on their second mission and already left. Seltyn has not locked in the next destination yet either. I know people are traveling over the holiday, so we are in no hurry.

Mar considers the options for what to do. I dislike water and any form of swimming, and Ingwe would be at a distinct disadvantage. So if avoiding that is possible... And knowing that our previous adventure had such an effect may mean that we can inspire more influence in the humans...

Perhaps my input is late, but it seems as if our first mission had a good effect. Maybe by going further into human lands, we can inspire more of them to our cause. I understand it may be dangerous, but...

"It is to be the trip to the serpent tribe. Those snake lovers love their reptiles and their poisons. The dungeon ruins are said to be loaded with riches beyond imagine."

"I have the ship ready for the trip down the coast. I will be anchoring the ship and getting you to shore in the canoes. Marlamin, if you can calm your friend down, I can probably take him in my canoe --I will just push it with him in it."

secret DM roll:

1d20 ⇒ 8

The trip down the coast is quite pleasant and uneventful and you are provisioned from the generous ship's stores. The coastline is covered with lush tropical vines and trees, and wildlife is prevalent. Crocodiles and alligators are very common, and Windfavor warns you about them.

You anchor within sight of a pebbly beach and see quite a bit of native activity along the water, mostly fishing and trapping in the coastal waters.

"My appearance may startle the natives. I will ferry the magnificent animal in one canoe and two more in the other at first light. I return with both and the last four can jump in and I will follow. I will be able to see you on shore from here, but if you want to be sure or it is night, just make a bonfire and I will come with the canoes."

Seltyn, did you pick and distribute the three ADDITIONAL level one potions (party total should be six)? Pick your daily spells. There is a unnamed mysterious rogue along that has yet to introduce themselves. I assume Marlamin and one other (you pick) and the animal companion on the first trip, the rest of the party will be back in approximately 20 minutes.

Mar thinks at the prospect. He is made uncomfortable by the idea that he may have to be the face, and voice, of the group until others arrive. On the other hand, if the natives are... unfriendly, I may be able to use the forest to an advantage. As Seltyn wishes. I am not the most well spoken, and neither is Telethal, but together, we can hold our own, I think.

Mar voices his opinion before leaving. Whatever you wish is fine with me. What should we do once arriving on the beach?

Perhaps. If we expect the environment to be hostile, then our original plan may be best. If we wish to try for a more... friendly experience, then you may be right. I do not want my own fears to influence this expedition, though. Whatever you wish, and Seltyn wishes, I will abide by.

Take the strong ones first, Windfavor. Marlamin and Telethal can take care of themselves. The rest of us won't be far behind. Our admiral will waste no time.

If the people are unfriendly, stand firm and try to persuade them without hurting them, perhaps with a show of magic. The sight of Ingwe alone should make them cautious. We'll be ready with spells and bows, if it comes to that.

The children and fishermen stare in wonder as the animal, druid, and fighter nimbly exit the canoes and Windfavor returns with the rest of the crew. He returns to the ship reminding you to wave or light a fire to get his attention. Windfavor returns the canoes to the ship.

You are given a wide berth by the scantily clad natives who play in the surf, check nets and pots for seafood, and fish in the surf. You are fairly certain that no one left the beach or ran away to give warning.

After his first voyage by sea, Kalthos is weak in the knees and green in the face, desperately trying to hide it as he looks into the wobbly little boat that would take him to shore. He knows in his head not like to fall in, but the unsteady ground is so foreign, so unpredictable relative to the sway of the jungle's branches.

ugh...This takes some getting used to. I'll be glad once I can scamper up a tree again. Or at least stand on something steady.

On the way to the Serpent tribe, Talon also is slightly uncomfortable on the seas, the manner in which the boat rises and falls on the waves works to turn his stomach, it would be several more voyages before he was completely comfortable on the boat.

I imagine that this is pretty easy going at the moment, the wind has been easy and constant. Imagine what the conditions would be like if there was a storm now.

Do we know what language the natives speak? Is it some kind of dialect of Common?

Upon getting to the beach, Talon will string his bow, make sure his equipment is properly secured and undamaged. Then he will simply wait for either Elorin or Seltyn to take the lead. He will do his best to not seem frightening.

The natives talk amongst themselves in a strange language - let me know if anyone uses spells to understand what they say. They seem to have immediately accepted your presence. Marlamin gets a sense that they seem very comfortable with their environment. There are three footpaths leaving the beach - one heads inland, the other two roughly follow the coast. The forest quickly becomes dense with much underbrush, but the footpaths seem clear of underbrush.

Well, I guess the next thing is to put our best foot forward. Let's approach them and ask if someone can point us to the serpent tribe or the dungeon we're to explore.

Seltyn pats Elorin on the shoulder. We'll let our ambassador work her charms, again. She's got a way with humans.

Once we know where we're going, Marlamin and Ingwe can take the lead. For now, they should hang back a bit. Telethal and I will stay close to Elorin. Smiles, everyone!

Your thinking is sound Seltyn, and indeed it would seem that Elorin has the best chance of being able to speak to these natives and get the right outcome. We know however that the temple is unlikely to be on the coast, after all, it would be too exposed there. I would suggest therefore that it is the inland trail that we would need, although would still love for Elorin to speak to these human savages and confirm this

Telethal, obeying orders, gives his best grin. Which is really just a pained-lookign grimace, his scars pulling at his ruined eye and lips in a slightly stomach-turning fashion. Still smile-grimacing, leaning on his spear, he says, "Shoudl still see if these nice folk can give us any warnings 'bout this place. I mean... they live here."

Elorin approaches a group of tribesman and begins playing 'multicultural charades'. It is the adults who get bored and go back to their fishing, but the teen children seem to want to play.

After Elorin and children act out a massive structure in the jungle, they convey to you that you take the path to the left going further down the coast, take the first right, proceed further to the second right, and go for what seems to be more than a short way and you will be at the jungle ruins. The acting seems to indicate you will be there when the sun is overhead if you walk at a normal pace.

Thanking the teen kids as best as he can, Talon talks briefly with Marl. I suggest you and I take point for this one, me with my bow and you with whatever is best. Moving fairly quickly, but quietly. Perhaps use Ingwe as well on this one. I don't think we would have any troubles on the way there, but being careful is always a good thing.

The four hour trip is uneventful. For approximately a half hour you follow the coast road. At the first right it goes through a less improved game trail for about and hour. You pass the first right and go another hour. At the second right you head down a completely overgrown trail the immediately twists to the left and heads down to follow the higher road in a deep ravine for about a half hour and then it veers right again to the entrance to a large valley.

You can make out the crumbling masonry of a once beautiful structure built into the side of a waterful emptying itself into a large lake. The overgrown trail proceeds to the right of the lake at the edge for about 500'. The trail is about 10' wide, but it is impossible to go double file as one of the sides of the trail is constantly overgrown or obstructed by fallen trees. To the right of the trail and uphill the trees are dense and the underbrush is continuous and lush green.

The trail disappears under a mossy, rocky overhang near the large waterfall. As you get closer to the waterfall, the spray of mist hangs in the air like a fine rain and the waterfall is more deafening. Lacking the appropriate tools to clear the way, it seems you will have to go single file. Marlamin realizes that he can easily pass through the dense woods (2nd level druid ability), but it will difficult for anyone else.

Assuming Talon has his bow out, Kalthos will keep his rapier at the ready, in the event of an unexpected melee scuffle. In the event that Talon moves at half speed, Kalthos will attempt to be stealthy, at full speed Kal feels it may be more trouble than it's worth

Lord Seltyn, it seems as if the trail continues around the waterfall. Should I scout through the forest, or along the trail itself? I can move through the forest ahead of you, if you'd like to continue behind me.

Post an M1 and I1 for turn 1 on the spread sheet. M=Mar I=Ingwe
Post an M2 and I2 for turn 2 on the spread sheet.
Do this for four turns.
If anyone else is moving too they will have to do similar 'plotting'. To ready an action you can do a move, else you can do a movex2 and have no action readied.

I will adjudicate tomorrow if anything exciting happens in the first 40 seconds=4 turns.

Post an M1 and I1 for turn 1 on the spread sheet. M=Mar I=Ingwe
Post an M2 and I2 for turn 2 on the spread sheet.
Do this for four turns.
If anyone else is moving too they will have to do similar 'plotting'. To ready an action you can do a move, else you can do a movex2 and have no action readied.

I will adjudicate tomorrow if anything exciting happens in the first 40 seconds=4 turns.

I am penalizing per square of dense jungle, so you and Mar's perception rolls after adjustment are quite similar. Talon is definitely not surprised though. You see 6 giant frogs moving on Mar and Ingwe and with your initiative and perception you can take a standard action in the surprise round. I will put them on the map tonight. You do not have line of sight back to the group that hasn't moved, but you barely have line of sight to the trail. Had Talon been point, he would have seen them hidden before they moved, but thats the cubes of chance.

Looked back over it, the posts seem to be a little haphazard. So am I right in thinking that Marl came across those frogs, and whilst he is flat footed, I have been lucky enough to have line of sight on them, and not be caught surprised?